SPEED BOATING

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 247, 9 January 1928, Page 7

SPEED BOATING

OUTBOARDS IN ACTION 'OP IT WINS TWO RACES Ideal weather conditions prevailed on Saturday afternoon when the New Zealand Power-Boat Association held two races for outboard speedboats in St. Mary’s Bay. The course was about a mile long and the events were started from Mr. A. R. Brett’s launch Norana, which was loaned as flagship. The racing officials were:—Mr. A. R. Lees, rear-commodorc, assisted by Mr. W. A. Wilkinson. The first race over two laps of the course, brought out six competitors as follows: ’Op It, El fa., Dambox. Rose Marie 1., Rose Marie 11., all scratch. The Miss Akarana owing 90 seconds. The last-named was the only boat powered with an eight horse-power engine and therefore had to give time to the rest of the field. ’Op It was first to round the home mark at the end of the first lap. Rose Marie 11., Dambox, Rose Marie 1., Miss Akarana and Elfa followed in that order. The scratch boats started at 4hr 33m 0s and the finsli was timed: ’Op It, 4hr 40m 465; Miss Akarana, 4hr 41m 11s; Rose Marie 11., 4hr 41m 40s; Rose Marie 1., 4hr 42m 0s; Elfa, 4hr 42m 345. Owing to the pump of Dambox’s engine becoming choked that boat was not able to finish. There were seven starters in the second race, a handicap event, contested over three laps of the course. The handicaps were:—Miss Akarana, scr; Caille, Op It, 3 m 40s: Rose Marie 11., lm 235; Dambox, Rose Marie 1., 3m 30s; Elfa, 4m 20s. It was unfortunate that Miss Akarana sheared her propeller drivingpin just after crossing the starting line. The race was thus robbed of a great deal of its interest. Before reaching the first turning mark Caille developed faulty steering and careered about the course in a manner suggesting she was out of control. At the conclusion of. the first lap the placings were: Elfa, Rose Marie 1., Dambox, Rose Marie 11., ’Op It. At the end of the second round ’Op It was leading by 20 yards from Rose Marie I. and Rose Marie 11. came along 100 yards asternof her namesake. * Dambox was having engine trouble and rounded the mark a quarter of a mile behind Rose Marie 11. By this time Elfa was well to the rear. The finish was timed: ’Op It, shr 23m 495; Rose Marie 1., shr 24m 245; Rose Marie 11., shr 24m 365; Dambox, shr 25m 14s.